Is New World Aeternum a new game? Explained

Modified Oct 19, 2024 15:32 IST

New World Aeternum new game — Is New World Aeternum actually a new game? Let's take a look at it (Image via Amazon Games)

With New World Aeternum’s launch, many people are asking if it’s a “new game”. It has new branding and plenty of new content to keep the fans of the game happy, but is it really a new game? It could only be considered a new game, if Final Fantasy 14: Dawntrail is a new game, compared to Final Fantasy 14: Shadowbringers. That means no, it is not a brand-new game.

When the original MMO launched, it was inundated with ridiculous bugs and glitches. Players could become invulnerable by simply holding the client window, for example. When they reached 0 HP, they just wouldn’t die. However, now the recently launched New World Aeternum is here, with updates, new content, and more. But that doesn’t make it a brand-new game.

New World Aeternum is not a “new game” at all

The Aeternum update made the game a lot more enjoyable, but it's not a new title (Image via Amazon Games)

New World Aeternum is the re-branding of the original MMO - which is more of an Action RPG these days. It looks like an MMO, but it isn’t what the developers are branding it as these days. That said, the game does have a wealth of new features and updates that make it far more accessible to solo players than the original game.

With the major changes like the new Character Archetypes, a PVP zone, 10-player raids, and cross-platform support, it’s understandable that you’d think New World Aeternum is a brand-new game. It certainly doesn’t feel like the same game.

If you already owned New World, you have New World Aeternum anyway, so that’s another point against it being a new game. Even the article on AboutAmazon lists the game as a “comprehensive refresh” of the original game but is now also available on consoles (PS5, Xbox Series X|S) in addition to PCs.

The game has changed so much since its earliest days (Image via Amazon Games)

I will say that many of the changes to this game are positive ones, though. As someone who played in the Alpha and again at launch, the direction of the game was not particularly enjoyable for me. This shift to a more solo-friendly Action RPG is a pretty good idea.

The original release of the MMO was a deeply flawed experience, and there are still some issues with it even now that the Aeternum update has dropped. Though the game does feature cross-platform play, it does not have cross-progression. The developers have already stated in a blog post that that will not be changing any time soon. You cannot take your character across platforms.

New World Aeternum is a refresh, a rebranding, and a remake of the original game. All the original content is there - though you do still have to purchase the Angry Earth expansion if you don’t already have it. The game’s storytelling and gameplay have been markedly improved in a wide variety of ways. I like this new direction for the game, but it doesn’t make it new.

Check out our other New World Aeternum guides and features

Edited by Adarsh J Kumar